The Detroit Pistons (43-14) will host the Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23) for a heavyweight Eastern Conference showdown in the NBA on Friday night. Tipoff from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Pistons are 6.5-point favorites over the Cavaliers on the spread (Pistons -6.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. Detroit is a -270 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Cleveland is +220 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks for Friday, February 27.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Prediction
- Cavaliers vs Pistons picks: Pistons -6.5 (-115), Under 227.5 (-115)
My Pistons vs. Cavaliers best bets are on Detroit to cover the spread and the Under. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 227.5 -105o / -115u | +220 |
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 227.5 -105o / -115u | -270 |
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Cavaliers vs Pistons NBA Friday Preview
The Cavaliers are punting on this game.
James Harden suffered a fractured non-shooting hand and is still weighing his options.
Donovan Mitchell is out with a groin injury — and Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, and Dean Wade are questionable.
The problem is that makes this a potential letdown spot for the Pistons.
When teams face good opponents missing this many players, we see inexplicable, random underperformance routinely in the NBA — but not consistently.
This could either be a massive blowout for the Pistons or a tight game that the Cavaliers have a legit chance of winning.
With the injuries, I make the spread for this game Pistons -10.5.
The odds are putting Harden, Schröder, and Ellis as out halfway on the power rating.
Simply putting these guys on the injury report suggests they are planning on punting this game, though.
Another complication is the possibility of mixed lineups.
When Harden is on the floor with Jarrett Allen without Evan Mobley, the Cavs’ defense has been a disaster, giving up 119.3 points per 100 possessions. Add in Mobley, and it drops to 104.2.
So, if Harden plays, is this a defensive game or an offensive game? If he doesn’t, how are the Cavaliers going to score?
The Cavaliers have some dogs on their team; Jaylon Tyson chief among them. However, Schröder and Ellis are also two of those dogs, and there's a chance neither may play.
What I’m trying to say is, this game is difficult to handicap, but let’s just assume that the guys on the injury report are out.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Picks, Betting Predictions
Pistons -6.5
The Pistons are rolling, having won eight of their last 10 games, and they are 9-3 SU, 8-4 ATS against division opponents this season.
However, the Pistons are 12-13 as home favorites, while going 11-7 ATS as home favorites when favored by more than their season average.
The Cavaliers are 6-3 as road 'dogs this season.
The Cavs are also 7-9 ATS the last two seasons when Mitchell is out, but 3-0 as road 'dogs without him. Go figure.
Strictly speaking, the safe play is to lay the number with Detroit.
However, I might also hedge with Cavaliers moneyline strictly based on the unstable nature of this game.
Under 227.5
The same concerns land for the total because who's in and who’s out will determine the baseline competency of the Cavaliers’ offense.
However, fully healthy, I make the total for this game 226 vs. the line of over/under 227.5.
If we assume an overall negative impact for the Cavaliers’ offense without Mitchell and possibly Harden, then we have to lean toward the Under.
If Mitchell and Harden don't play, that helps Cleveland's defense, even without Schröder and Ellis potentially.
There’s a potential game script where the Pistons smash the Cavaliers with their defense.
There's also a world where the Cavs' offense grinds this game into the muck.
The Under has to be the play.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Best Bets
- Pistons -6.5 (-115)
- Under 227 (-115)
For the latest on NBA injuries, be sure to check out our NBA Injury Report page.
